Switch.



SWITCH. APPLIUATION FILED JULY 21, y1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATBNTED MAR. 27, 1906.

M. S. FARMER.

SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED JULY21,1905.

a sHnnTsL-snlsm 2.

M. si. FARMER. SWITCH.

APPL-.loulou FILED JULY 21,1905.

I PATENTBD MAR. 27, 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED srATEs PA'rENr l, oEEroE.

MATTHEW S. FARMER, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 27, 1906.

Application filed July Z1, 1905. Serial No. 270,649.

" pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in switches, and more particularly to improved switch throwing and locking mechanism, the object of the invention being to provide a switch with means normally below the surface of the track which is elevated by the wheels of a car and which when thrown by means on the car will automatically lock the switch.

IVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view illustrating my improvements. Figs. 2 and 3 areviews. in cross-section. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views; and Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are views in section on the lines v o, w w, and y fy, respectively. Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view of the switchthrowing means carried by the car, and Figs. 11 and 12 are views of a modified form of track.

1 1 represent rails of a track, and 2 2 are' rails of a track joining the rails 1 1 by means of point-rails 3 3, and 4 represents the swinging point-rail or plow-guide, such as ordinarily employed in underground electric conduit systems. The rails 1 are slotted in their grooved portions adjacent to the switch to accommodate tread-levers 5 of general L shape, pivotally secured at one end to depending lugs 6 on the rails 1 and having forwardly-projecting arms 7 at their forward ends'having an adjustable connection 8 with normally horizontal levers 9, pivoted between their ends, as shown. These levers 9,

' which I shall refer to as the lifting-levers,

have their inner ends spaced apart to allow free passage for the plow of the car, and their pivotal movement is restricted by pins 10 on the framework of the conduit.

The swinging central oint rail 4 has a hinged bar 11 secured to t e lower face thereof, and a de ending web 12 on rail 4 is located in a slot-13 1n bar 11, compelling the bar and rail to move togetherlaterally. My improved switch-throwing pin 14 is secured to the end of bar 11, is disposedverticallyand movable through an opening in rail4, and may have a roller or sleeve thereon to reduce friction. The free end of this bar 11 normally res'ts on one of the lifting-levers 9, and its weight holds the tread-lever 5, with which it is connected, elevated to be engaged by the flange of a car.

On each -side of the conduit vertical bars 16 are located and pivoted between their connected by an adjustable rod 17 below the path of the car-plow and compelling the bars to move together. These'bars 16 are connected by rods 18 with the switch-points 3 and have inwardly-projecting tongues 19 at be engaged thereby to throw the switch-rails when the rail 4 is thrown, as will hereinafter appear, and suflicient space is provided between the ends of tongues 19 and rail 4 to allow the plow to pass without obstruction.

20 represents a car having a vertical crankshaft 22 secured to its cross-beam and provided with switch-throwing tongue 21 at its lower end. A bar 22a connects the crankarm of shaft22 with the lower end of a tripand pivotallysecured betweenits ends. The upper end of this trip-lever 23 is made forked or T shape and thas a treadle on each of its forked ends which enables the motorman to step on either treadle and throw the lower end of the lever either forward or back to change the angle of tongue 21, according to the way the switch is to be` `thrown.

The operation is as follows: Tongue 21 is elevated out of the way of all obstructions on the track, and pin 14 is depressed out of harms way. The wheel-flanges of an approaching car ride over tread-levers 5, depress them, and through the medium of the vates the bar and pin 14, carried thereby. The tongue 21 by its cam action against pin 14 throws the same and moves bar -11 and point-rail 4 to one side, and the point-rail enswitch-rails, as above explained. When the tongue 21 passes pin 14, the latter and bar 1 1 will fall, depressing the inner end of one of the lifting-levers and resting in line withthe lever 23, projecting through the car-platformI the pin depressed below the road-level and ends, and the lower ends of the bars 16 are' their upper ends in the path of point-rail 4 .to j

gages one of the tongues 19 and throws both' 105 lifting-lever on which bar 11 is resting eleloo end of the other lifting-lever, so that it seno! alud curely locks the switch-rails until the bar 1l is again elevated.

In Figs. l0 and il my improvements are shown on a track having no conduit. this form a central hinged and swinging rail 25 is shown connected by adjustable rods 26 with the switch-point rails 3 and carries the switch-throwing pin le at its free end. This free end of the rail 25 is normally depressed and rests beside a vertical pin 27, securely locking the switch-rails until the rail 25 is elevated by the tread-lever 28 and lifting-lever 29, as clearly shown. When the rail l25 is elevated and thrown, it will fall to the other side of pin27 and lock. the switch, as before.

It will be seen that my improvements not Only elevate a' normally depressed switchthrowing pin and ,throw the same, but also automatically lock the switch in its thrown position until the pin is again elevated by'an approaching car. 1

A great many slight changes might be `made in the general `form and arrangement of the parts described Without departing'from. my invention, and hence I would have it n n-` derstood that I do not restrict myself to the Vprecise details set forth, but consider myself at liberty to make such slight changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. l

Having ryully described my invention, what I claimfas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l; In a switch, the combination with a switch-point rail, of a normally depressed switch-throwing device, means for elevating said device, and means for automatically locking the switch iii-either thrown position.

2. In a switch, the combination with a switch-point, of a central rail connected with the switch-point and normally depressed, a device on said rail to be engaged by a device on the carto throw the rail and switch-point,

and means automatically locking the rail in either depressed position.

3. In a switch, the combination with a switch-point, of a normally depressed switchthrowing pin, a tread-lever in the track to be engaged by a wheel-ilange to elevate the de 5o vice, means on a car to throw the device to elenca one side, .and means 'automatically locking the switch in either position.

e. In a switch, the combination with two switclnpoints, of a central swinging rail con nected with both points, a barhinged to the rails.. and normally depressed, a pin on the bar movable throughan opening in the rail, 'lifting-lovers to elevate the bar and. looking the same against lateral movement when depressed, tread-levers in the track to operate the lifting-levers, and means on the carto en gage and 4throw the pin when the latter is eleva'ted.-

5. In a'switch, 'thev` combination with. a switch `point, of a vertically and laterally movable bar connected with the switchpoint, `a vertical pin on the bar, a liftingdever to elevate the bar, a treaddeveroperated by the flange of 'a car-wheel to operate the lifting-lever, and means on a car to engage the pin and throw the bar and switchvpoint when, the bar is elevated.

6. In a switch-operating mechanism, the combination with a bar connected with the switch-point, and a vertical pin on said. bar, of a crank-shaft on a car, a tongue on the crank-shaft to engage 'the pin, a yolre or l`lever pivoted between its ends to the car-platform, a rod connecting the said. lever and cranlrfshaft, anda ioot-treadle at opposite ends ci the yoke or horizontal member of the lever to be depressed. and throw the lever in either direction.

7. In a vswitch-operating mechanism the combination with. a pin connected with theV ,switcli-point, of a car-plattform, a lever ful crumed in the platform, two treadles con nected with the lever to throw it in either direction, a crank shaft connected with the car-truck, a rod connecting 'the crank-shaft and lever, and a horizontal tongue secured to the lower end of the crank-shaft.

In testimony whereof I 'have signed this specification in the presence ol' two subscribing witnesses.

li/IATTI-IEW S. IlAR'MER.

Witnesses:

S. Vf. Ilosrnn, S. G. Ncrrinenair. 

